Army Deepens Collaboration With NAFRC To Prepare Personnel For Life After Service
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has reiterated the Nigerian Army’s resolve to deepen its strategic partnership with the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC), Lagos, as part of sustained efforts to improve troops’ welfare and ensure effective post-service empowerment.
Lieutenant General Shaibu gave the assurance on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, during a courtesy and strategic engagement with the Commandant of NAFRC, Air Vice Marshal Nnaemeka Ilo, at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.
The Army Chief stressed that welfare interventions must extend beyond active service, noting that structured resettlement and skills acquisition programmes are essential for ensuring long-term stability, productivity, and dignity for personnel after retirement. He emphasised the need to identify and eliminate operational bottlenecks that could hinder effective training and post-service transition.
Congratulating Air Vice Marshal Ilo on his appointment, the COAS highlighted the critical role of NAFRC in equipping military personnel with vocational, technical, and professional skills required for economic self-reliance. He described resettlement programmes as a core component of the Nigerian Army’s evolving welfare architecture.
Lieutenant General Shaibu commended the Centre’s wide range of skills acquisition initiatives, noting that they significantly facilitate a smooth transition from military to civilian life. He also acknowledged the leadership responsibility involved in managing the welfare and development of the large number of Nigerian Army personnel undergoing training at the Centre.
The COAS further called for structured post-training placement mechanisms, pointing out that many trained personnel possess valuable skills that can be effectively utilised in civilian institutions and the private sector. He urged NAFRC to strengthen partnerships, enhance data management systems, and adopt human-resource-driven placement strategies to improve reintegration and long-term employability.
In his response, Air Vice Marshal Ilo expressed appreciation for the longstanding collaboration between the Nigerian Army and NAFRC, commending the COAS for his personal commitment to the Centre’s mandate. He revealed that a substantial number of Nigerian Army personnel are currently enrolled in various training programmes at the Centre, underscoring NAFRC’s central role in professional development and post-service empowerment.
The Commandant assured the COAS of the Centre’s continued loyalty and pledged to faithfully implement all directives aimed at improving personnel welfare and resettlement outcomes.
